With the opening salvo of playwright John Patrick Shanley's trilogy of plays that began with the hit Doubt still selling out on Broadway, the second chapter, Defiance, opened on Feb. 28 at Manhattan Theatre Club.

Set on a North Carolina military base in 1971, Defiance pits a black and a white officer against each other as they butt heads over, according to production notes, "race, women and the high cost of doing the right thing." At left, The Rivals star Emily Bergl and Wicked tour cast member Ana Gasteyer, as well as Rabbit Hole playwright David Lindsay-Abaire and his wife Chris are seen after the show. Below, cast members Stephen Lang, Chris Bauer, Margaret Colin, Jeremy Strong, Chris Chalk and Trevor Long join playwright Shanley at the opening night party for Defiance at Beacon, on West 56th Street in New York City.